the First Week of Lent
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King James Version
Matthew 11:17
Bible Study Resources
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We played the flute for you,
And saying, we haue piped vnto you, and ye haue not danced: wee haue mourned vnto you, and ye haue not lamented.
"‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.'
and say, 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a song of mourning, and you did not mourn.'
‘We played music for you, but you did not dance; we sang a sad song, but you did not cry.'
and say 'We piped the flute for you [playing wedding], and you did not dance; we wailed sad dirges [playing funeral], and you did not mourn and cry aloud.'
And say, We haue piped vnto you, and ye haue not daunced, we haue mourned vnto you, and ye haue not lamented.
and say, 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.'
and say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.'
'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.'
"We played the flute, but you would not dance! We sang a funeral song, but you would not mourn!"
‘We made happy music, but you wouldn't dance! We made sad music, but you wouldn't cry!'
say, We have piped to you, and ye have not danced: we have mourned to you, and ye have not wailed.
‘We played flute music for you, but you did not dance; we sang a funeral song, but you were not sad.'
And say, We have sung to you, but you would not dance; and we have wailed to you but you did not mourn.
‘We played wedding music for you, but you wouldn't dance! We sang funeral songs, but you wouldn't cry!'
saying, ‘We played the flute for you and you did not dance; we sang a lament and you did not mourn.'
and saying, We piped to you, and you did not dance; we mourned to you, and you did not wail.
and say, We piped unto you, and ye did not dance; we wailed, and ye did not mourn.
We made music for you and you did not take part in the dance; we gave cries of sorrow and you made no signs of grief.
and say, 'We played the flute for you, and you didn't dance. We mourned for you, and you didn't lament.'
'A wedding song we played for you, the dance you did but scorn. A woeful dirge we chanted, too, but then you would not mourn.'
and say, We have sung to you, and you have not danced; we have wailed unto you, and you have not mourned.
and say: We have sung to you, and ye did not dance: we have wailed to you, and ye did not lament.
And say: We haue pyped vnto you, and ye haue not daunsed: we haue mourned vnto you, and ye haue not sorowed.
and say, We piped unto you, and ye did not dance; we wailed, and ye did not mourn.
and say, 'We played the flute for you, and you didn't dance. We mourned for you, and you didn't lament.'
and calling to their fellows, And saying, We have piped to you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to tou, and ye have not lamented.
"`We have played the flute to you,' they say, `and you have not danced: we have sung dirges, and you have not beaten your breasts.'
and seien, We han songun to you, and ye han not daunsid; we han morned to you, and ye han not weilid.
and say, We piped to you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.
And saying, We have piped to you, and ye have not danced; We have mourned to you, and ye have not lamented.
‘We played the flute for you, yet you did not dance; we wailed in mourning, yet you did not weep.'
and saying: "We played the flute for you, And you did not dance; We mourned to you, And you did not lament.'
‘We played wedding songs, and you didn't dance, so we played funeral songs, and you didn't mourn.'
They say, ‘We played music for you, but you did not dance. We showed sorrow in front of you, but you did not show sorrow.'
‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.'
say, We played the flute to you, and ye danced not, - we sang a lament, and ye beat not the breast.
Who crying to their companions say: We have piped to you, and you have not danced: we have lamented, and you have not mourned.
'We piped to you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.'
and saye: we have pyped vnto you and ye have not daunsed? We have morned vnto you and ye have not sorowed.
and saying, We piped unto you, and ye did not dance, we lamented to you, and ye did not smite the breast.
& saye: we haue pyped vnto you, and ye wolde not daunse: We haue morned vnto you, & ye wolde not wepe.
"if we play a merry tune, you are not for dancing; if we act a mournful part, you are not in the humour."
'We rode the rough stock for you and got bucked off, but you didn't cheer because you wanted to see us rope. We roped fast and quick, but you didn't clap because no one got bucked off.'
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
We: Isaiah 28:9-13, 1 Corinthians 9:19-23
piped: Matthew 9:15, Matthew 9:23, 1 Kings 1:40, Isaiah 30:29, Jeremiah 9:17-20, Jeremiah 31:4, Luke 15:25
Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 32:20 - a very Job 3:8 - who are ready Proverbs 29:9 - General Ecclesiastes 3:4 - time to weep Zechariah 8:5 - playing Matthew 20:3 - standing Mark 5:38 - and seeth 1 Corinthians 14:7 - except
Gill's Notes on the Bible
And saying, we have piped unto you, and ye have not danced,.... The allusion is to Jewish children, who having seen their parents and friends at their festivals and weddings, some play upon the pipe, and others dance to them, mimicked the same in their diversions; and also having observed, at funerals, the mourning women, making their doleful ditties, and others answering to them, acted the part of these persons, expecting their fellows would make their responses, but did not: hence the complaint,
we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented. The different characters of John and Christ, are here set forth, by "piping" and "mourning". The character and ministry of Christ and his disciples, by "piping"; by which is meant, the clear, comfortable, and joyful ministry of the Gospel; which is delightful music to a sensible sinner; and may be compared to it, for distinction of sounds, harmony, and agreement, being charming and delightful; its notes are all grace, mercy, love, liberty, peace, pardon, righteousness, and free salvation; and it is very powerful and engaging, it quickens and animates, attracts, allures and charms. The character and ministry of John, is signified by "mourning": his life was a very austere one; he and his disciples fasted oft; he appeared in a very coarse habit; his speech was rough, his voice thundering: his doctrine was the doctrine of repentance, and he used very severe threatenings, in case of impenitence: on the other hand, by the "fellows" to whom they piped, or ministered, in their different ministrations, are meant, the Scribes and Pharisees; who were neither affected to, nor with, either of them: as for John, he was too austere for them; they did not like his garb, nor his diet; nor did his doctrine, or baptism please them; nor were they wrought upon, or brought to repentance by his ministry; they did not lament, weep, or shed one tear, but sat unmoved, like stocks and stones, under those awful striking discourses, on mournful subjects, delivered by him: nor were they pleased with the free conduct, and pleasant conversation of Christ; nor did they dance, or rejoice, at the good news and glad tidings of grace, and salvation, which were brought by him: of such froward, peevish spirits they were, that neither John, nor Christ, could please them: they were a true picture and emblem of many persons, who like neither law nor Gospel, but are morose, sullen, and quarrelsome, let them hear what they will; as Solomon says,
"If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest", Proverbs 29:9. Upon which the Talmudists i comment, and illustrate it in this manner, and produce a proverbial saying, much like this in the text.
"Says God, I was angry with Ahaz, and I delivered him into the hands of the kings of Damascus; he sacrificed and burnt incense to their gods, 2 Chronicles 28:22. I played with Amaziah, and I gave the king of Edom into his hands; he brought their gods and worshipped them, 2 Chronicles 25:14. Says R. Papa, this is what men say, or it is a common proverb,
בכיי ליה למר דלא ידע חייכי ליה למר דלא ידע, "they weep to a man who takes no notice of it, they laugh to a man who does not observe it"; woe to that man, who knows not the difference between good and evil.''
i T. Bab. Sanhedrim, fol. 103. 1.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
But whereunto shall I liken ... - Christ proceeds to reprove the inconsistency and fickleness of that age of people. He says they were like children - nothing pleased them. He refers here to the “plays” or “sports” of children. Instrumental music, or piping and dancing, were used in marriages and festivals as a sign of joy. See the notes at Isaiah 5:11-12. Compare Job 21:11; 2 Samuel 6:14; Judges 11:34; Luke 15:25. Children imitate their parents and others, and act over in play what they see done by others. Among their childish sports, therefore, was probably an imitation of a wedding or festal occasion. We have seen also (the notes at Matthew 9:23) that funerals were attended with mournful music, and lamentation, and howling. It is not improbable that children also, in play: imitated a mournful funeral procession. One part are represented as sullen and dissatisfied. They would not enter into the play: nothing pleased them. The others complained of it. We have, said they, taken all pains to please you. We have piped to you, have played lively tunes, and have engaged in cheerful sports, but you would not join with us; and then we have played different games, and imitated the mourning at funerals, and you are equally sullen; “you have not lamented;” you have not joked with us. Nothing pleases you. So, said Christ, is this generation of people. “John” came one way, “neither eating nor drinking,” abstaining as a Nazarite, and you were not pleased with him. I, the Son of man, have come in a different manner, “eating and drinking;” not practicing any austerity, but living like other people, and you are equally dissatisfied - nay, you are less pleased. You calumniate him, and abuse me for not doing the very thing which displeased you in John. Nothing pleases you. You are fickle, changeable, inconstant, and abusive.
Markets - Places to sell provisions; places of concourse, where also children flocked together for play.
We have piped - We have played on musical instruments. A “pipe” was a wind instrument of music often used by shepherds.
Neither eating nor drinking - That is, abstaining from some kinds of food and wine, as a Nazarite. It does not mean that he did not eat at all, but that he was remarkable for abstinence.
He hath a devil - He is actuated by a bad spirit. He is irregular, strange, and cannot be a good man.
The Son of man came eating and drinking - That is, living as others do; not practicing austerity; and they accuse him of being fond of excess, and seeking the society of the wicked.
Gluttonous - One given to excessive eating.
Wine-bibber - One who drinks much wine. Jesus undoubtedly lived according to the general customs of the people of his time. He did not affect singularity; he did not separate himself as a Nazarite; he did not practice severe austerities. He ate that which was common and drank that which was common. As wine was a common article of beverage among the people, he drank it. It was the pure juice of the grape, and for anything that can be proved, it was without fermentation. In regard to the kind of wine which was used, see the notes at John 2:10. No one should plead the example, at any rate, in favor of making use of the wines that are commonly used in this country - wines, many of which are manufactured here, and without a particle of the pure juice of the grape, and most of which are mixed with noxious drugs to give them color and flavor.
Wisdom is justified of her children - The children of wisdom are the wise - those who understand. The Saviour means that though that generation of Pharisees and fault-finders did not appreciate the conduct of John and himself, yet the “wise,” the candid - those who understood the reasons of their conduct - would approve of and do justice to it.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Matthew 11:17. We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced — We have begun the music, which should have been followed by the dance, but ye have not attended to it.
We have mourned - and ye have not lamented. — Ye have not smote the breast: ουκ εκοψασθε, from κοπτομαι, to strike, or beat the breasts with the hands, particularly in lamentation. So used, Nahum 2:7; Luke 18:13; Luke 23:48, and by the best Greek and Roman writers. There is an allusion here to those funeral lamentations explained Matthew 9:23.
